Foot arch support



1933- E. E. DETTELBACH FOOT ARCH SUPPORT 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed May 10, 1932 INVENTOR. 5E. DETTELBHCH.

ATTORNEY Dec. 26, 1933. E. E. DETTELBACH FOOT ARCH SUPPORT Filed May 10, 1932' 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

ff. DETTELBHCH.

ATTOIUVEY.

Patented Dec. 26, 1933 UNITED STATES 1PATENTyO-FFICE v m C E B RIS I EdwardE. Dettelbach, to; ngela, Calif. Application May 10,1932, Serial No. 610,375 4 Claims. ((11. sc- 'zi) e This invention relates to improvements in supports for the arch portion of the feet" Thegeneral object of this invention is to provide an improved foot arch supporting device adapted to be placed in a shoe.

A further object of the invention is to provide a shoe with an arch support which is self aligning and allows free movement of the foot while supporting the arch portionthereof. 1 e

Other objects and the advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following description. taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings wherein: 1

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of'a shoe showing my improved arch support operatively positioned therein and showing it in a raised position before the foot hasbeen. placed in the shoe.

Fig. 2 is a section taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the been placed in the shoe.

Fig. 4 is an enlargedtop plan view of the arch support. I r

Fig. 5 isan enlarged rear View of the arch 5 support.

Fig. 6 is a section taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. '7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 showing a modifiedforin of support member for the arch support.

Fig. 8 is a central longitudinal plane section through a modified form of archvsupport.

Fig. '9 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 8 showing the supportingzrnember in an extended position. I j v Fig..l0 is a View similar to Fig. 6 showing a further modified form of supporting member for the arch support. 1 j q Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 10 showing a still further. modified form of. supporting member and i Fig. 12 is a fragmentary rear view of the device shown in Fig. 11.

Referring to the drawings by reference character, I have indicated my. improved foot arch supporting'device generally at 10. In Figs. 1, 2, and 3, I have shown the device 10 as operatively positioned in a shoe 12 which includes a sole 13, an upper portion 14, a heel 15 and an insole 16; As shown the arch supporting device 10 includes a metal or other plate 18 and a supporting bracket 19. The bracket 19 is shown as formed of a single length of metal rod bent back upon itself and includes a foot portion 20 and an upstanding portion 21 bent out atan angleto the 555 foot portion 20. The end portions of the angular 18 "as: shown in Fig. 5.

covered with leather or other suitable material :Beforeplacing the is: turned upward position of the arch support after -the;foot has I engagestheplate'18 itmoves it downward to the portion 21 are bent at an angle thereto as at 21' in Fig. 5 and are rotatablymounted in bearing members 22 secured to the rear face of the plate In longitudinal v and transverse cro'sssection the plate l8'isv shaped 69 to conform. to the. shape of the'portion-iof the foot the-device is adapted 'to' engage and the iface'andedges of the plate l8 are preferably as indicated at 23. I i I In usethe device 10 isplaced in theshoe at; a locality where'it will, when the'foot is placed in the shoe, be positioned below the archof the foot; ;When positioning the device 10in the shoe the foot portion-20 of the supporting bracket 19 70 is preferably placed between-theinsole 16., and the-sole 13-. of the shoe asshown in Figs. 2i and'3. foot in the-shoe theiplate 18 as shown in Figs. land 2 and thentheifootisrplaced in the shoe. As the foot (6 position-shown inFig. ,3; .As thefoot isthus placed inthe shoeand engages the plate 18 the plate 18 is automatically aligned in correct rela- :tion to the foot. i When walking the hinged connection of the supporting-bracket 19, to the plate,

.at 22, allows the plate18- tomove with some motions of the foot and the foot portion 20 of the supporting bracket 19 has a slight rocking movement. between the insole 16 and the sole 13-1thereby allowing the plate 18;.to rocklwith other motions of the foot. 1

In Fig; II have shown asupp0rtingbracket25 which issimilar .to the-supporting bracket 19 with the exception that, adjacent the juncture of 99 the foot portion of the bracket and the angular portion, each of the sole members of the .foot portion thereof arezbent upwardly. to form a raised-L'portion'26. When the device is positioned in a shoe and is placed thereinjthe lower port5 tion of the plate 18 engages the raised portion 26 to support the lower end of the plate 18 in a higher position than it would be supported by the bracket 19; The height of the raised portion 26 of the bracket 25 may be changed to support it!) the plate 18 in various postions to accommodate different foot arches. In Figs; 8 and 9, I have shown another modified form of supporting bracket indicated at 27. As shown the bracket 27 includes two similar 1&5 metal rods 28 each of which includes a foot portion 29 and an angular portion 30 which is pivotally secured to the plate 18 by a bearing member 31 similar to the bracket 19. The ends of the rods forming the foot portions 29 are bent 1110 in opposite directions as at 32 to form prong portions. A metal loop 33 surrounds the rods 28 and is normally positioned adjacent the prong portions 32 as shown in Fig. 8. When the foot portions 29 of the bracket 27 are positioned between the insole and the sole the loop 33 engages the insole and remains stationary while the friction caused by forcing the rods 28 of the foot portions 29 into position spreads the rods 28 apartas shownin'Fig. 9 thus-making it more difficult for the device to become accidentally dislodged.

In Fig. I have indicated a further modified formof supporting bracket generally at 35. As shown the bracket 35 includes a socketgnember.

36 secured to the plate 18 and a threaded shank 37. The shank 37 includes ai spherical portion 38 which is positioned in a socket recess 39 provided in the socket member 36. An internally threaded eyelet 40 is positioned in an aperture 41 provided in the sole 13 of the shoe and the shank '37 ispositioned in the eyelet and extends through an aperture 42 provided in the insole 16. By rotatingithe shank '37 the .platel8 may be eitherslowerednr =rai'sed tothe desired position anda lock nut 43 provided on the shank 37 is adapted to retain the shank in the position to which it has been moved. The ball and socket connection between the plate 18 and the shank 37 allows the plate 18 to move freely with all motions of the foot.

' In :Figs. 11 and 12,1 have indicated :a still further modified form .ofsupporting abracket generally at 145. As .shown the bracket 45 is made from a flat piece ,of metal and like the bracket 19 includes a foot portion 46 and an angular portion 47. The angular portion 47 includes a bearing portion 48 in which a pin 49 :is positioned. The .pin 49 isfurther positioned in bearing portions 50 whichareoutstruck from the plate 18. :bracket, 1 :provide a boss 51 =whichz'includes .a threaded aperture 52 in which a threaded stem :53 is positioned. "I-he v-threaded'stem 53extends through an aperture '54 provided :in: the sole 13 and a lock nut 55 .is positionedonthestem 53 adjacent the underface'of the sole l3; 'By-rotating the stem:53 to move'up-or idown theplate 118 may beset in various adjusted positions to accommodate different :types of fo ot arches. :From the foregoing description it will be apparent that I have provided a novel foot arch support which is simple in construction and highlyefficientinuse.

Having thus described my invention, '1 claim: '1. In combination with a-shoe including a sole, an -arch supporting device, said arch sup.- porting device includinga plate and a plate sup,-

porting bracket, saidplate being shaped to conform to the shape of a foot adjacent the inner device including a plate and a bracket, said bracket, said plate the shape of afoot :On the foot portion 4'6 .ofzthe being formed of metal bent to include a foot portion and an angularly arranged portion, said angular portion being hinged about a horizontal axis to the center of the rear face of said plate, said device being positioned in said shoe at a position wherein when a foot is placed in said shoe said plate will engage the inner longitudinal arch of said foot, and said plate will swing about said horizontal axis into an adjusted position.

2. ,Incombination with a shoe including a sole, an arch supporting .device, said arch supporting plate supporting plate being shaped to conform to theshape of a foot adjacent the inner longitu- ,dinal ,arch portion thereof, said bracket being formed of metal bent to include a foot portion and an angularly arranged portion, said angular portionbeing pivotally secured to the center of the rear face of said plate and means positioned on said foot portion to limit the inward swing of said plate about said central pivot, said device being positioned -.in said shoe at vacposition wherein when a foot is placed in said shoe said plate will engagethe inner said foot.

3. In combination with a an arch supporting device including a shoe including a sole, device, said arch supporting plate and a plate supporting adjacent the inner longitudinal. arch portion thereof, said bracket being formed of metal bent .to include afoot portion and an'angularly arranged portion, said angular the rear face of said plate, and means integral with said foot portion to engage said piste and limit the swing of the plate, said device being positioned in said shoe at a position wherein when a foot is placed in said shoe said device including a plate and a plate supporting bracket, said plate being shaped to conform to the shape of a foot adjacent the inner longitudinal arch portion thereof, said bracket being formed of metal bent to include a foot portion and an angularly arranged portion, portion being the rear face pivotally secured to the center of of said plate, said device being positioned in .said shoe at a position wherein when a foot is placed in said shoe said plate will engage the inner longitudinal arch of said foot,

longitudinal arch .of

being shaped to conform to 1;-

portion being pivotally secured to an intermediate portion of said angular and said plate 'will swing about said pivot into i an adjusted position.

EDWARD E. DETTELBACH. 

